Detection of Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis in Tissues of Wild-living Animals and in Ticks of North-west Poland.

ABSTRACT

This work presents results of the research on the occurrence of Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis in the tissues of wild-living animals and ticks collected from Drawsko County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The real-time PCR testing for the pathogens comprised 928 samples of animal internal organs and 1551 ticks. The presence of C. burnetii was detected in 3% of wild-living animals and in 0.45-3.45% (dependent on collection areas) of ticks. The genetic sequences of F. tularensis were present in 0.49 % of ticks (only in one location - Drawa) and were not detected in animal tissues. The results indicate respectively low proportion of animals and ticks infected with C. burnetii and F. tularensis .This work presents results of the research on the occurrence of Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis in the tissues of wild-living animals and ticks collected from Drawsko County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The real-time PCR testing for the pathogens comprised 928 samples of animal internal organs and 1551 ticks. The presence of C. burnetii was detected in 3% of wild-living animals and in 0.45­3.45% (dependent on collection areas) of ticks. The genetic sequences of F. tularensis were present in 0.49 % of ticks (only in one location ­ Drawa) and were not detected in animal tissues. The results indicate respectively low proportion of animals and ticks infected with C. burnetii and F. tularensis.